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Warhammer Heroes #Novella
Thorgrim
A Warhammer Fantasy Battles novella
As orc warboss Gorfang Rotgut prepares a final apocalyptic assault on Karak Eight Peaks, King Belegar must swallow his pride and call for help from one dwarf who can break Rotgut's horde: High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's another chapter in the Karak Eight Peaks saga (see also Headtaker and Skarsnik), that will eventually culminate in the apocalyptic events of the End Times. Also, how often do you get to see a dwarf give birth in the middle of a battle?
THE STORY
In the ruins of the dwarf hold of Karak Eight Peaks, ancient enemies battle for supremacy. Belegar, king of the dwarfs who call that venerable realm home, is assailed on all sides - the skaven Headtaker, the goblin Skarsnik and the orc Gorfang Rotgut all threaten to take his hard-won glory. As Gorfang prepares to sweep the dwarfs aside in a final apocalyptic assault, Belegar must swallow his pride and call for help from one dwarf who can break Rotgut's horde: High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer.
As orc warboss Gorfang Rotgut prepares a final apocalyptic assault on Karak Eight Peaks, King Belegar must swallow his pride and call for help from one dwarf who can break Rotgut's horde: High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's another chapter in the Karak Eight Peaks saga (see also Headtaker and Skarsnik), that will eventually culminate in the apocalyptic events of the End Times. Also, how often do you get to see a dwarf give birth in the middle of a battle?
THE STORY
In the ruins of the dwarf hold of Karak Eight Peaks, ancient enemies battle for supremacy. Belegar, king of the dwarfs who call that venerable realm home, is assailed on all sides - the skaven Headtaker, the goblin Skarsnik and the orc Gorfang Rotgut all threaten to take his hard-won glory. As Gorfang prepares to sweep the dwarfs aside in a final apocalyptic assault, Belegar must swallow his pride and call for help from one dwarf who can break Rotgut's horde: High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer.
- GenresFantasy
128 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2014
About the author
David Guymer
178 books177 followersDavid Guymer is a freelance author, PhD in molecular microbiology (which still comes in more handy than you might think), and tabletop warlord based in the Yorkshire East Riding. He has written for Black Library, Marvel, Aconyte Books, Asmodee, Mantic Games, Cubicle 7, Creative Assembly, and Mongoose Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 10, 2014
Fans of Black Library’s Warhammer novels may be familiar with the four-way contest for Karak Eight Peaks, as previously handled in Skarsnik (by Guy Haley, concerning the titular goblin boss) and Headtaker (David Guymer). Following on from his previous novel taking on the insane skaven warlord Queek Headtaker, David Guymer now gives us a novella-length story showing things from the dwarf viewpoint. It’s their city that’s being contested after all, so it’s about time we got their point of view.
For the full review visit http://trackofwords.wordpress.com/201...
For the full review visit http://trackofwords.wordpress.com/201...
January 30, 2022
Another misleading Warhammer title! In conjunction with the face on the cover, you'd expect the story to be about Dwarvin High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer, right? What actually happens is the author pulls a switcheroo and tells instead the story of Thorgrim Ironhammer, son of Belegar Ironhammer.
The book is centered around, not Thorgrim Grudgebearer, but the as-yet-unborn son of Belegar Ironhammer, Thorgrim Ironhammer, soon to be future king of Karak Eight Peaks. As Thorgrim is yet to be born, most of the focus is on his pregnant mother, Kemma, who is under constant attack by grobbi, skaven, and urk alike,as well as and Belegar, who struggles to maintain his rightful claim to kingship. Grudgebearer is there, but he is merely a side-character, providing a bit of commentary at the start of each chapter and a bit of fighting at the end. The book doesn't go into much detail about his character's history, motivations, or anything like that though. What a bummer.
Honestly, the book gives Gorfang Rotgut a lot more spotlight than him in my opinion. Being the third part of the Karak Eight Peaks omnibus, and having major characters like Skarsnik and Headtaker at his disposal, I found it rather odd that the author would choose Gorfang to be the main villain of the story instead of one of them, but it really doesn't matter because none of the characters get very much development since the book is so short.
That's the main issue I have with this book and why I'm giving it only 3 stars. It's well written and interesting to read (even though it's not actually about Thorgrim Grudgebearer and Skarsnik and Queek are nowhere to be seen), but it's way too damn short. It ended so suddenly I literally said to myself "Wait, that's it? Seriously?" As it stands, it's too short to call a novel, and doesn't feel complete enough to call a novella or short story. With those, usually, you get a short, but complete narrative with some sense of achievement and finality at the end. Here, you don't get that. Gorfang is beaten but Queek and Skarsnik (arguably more important villains) are still around, the kingdom is not reclaimed, many grudges remain unsettled, evil still lurks in every corner. By the end of the story not much as changed. Gorfang is gone, but he's not even one of the people fighting over Karak Eight Peaks, so Karak Eight Peaks still remains roughly the same way it was before.
All in all, a short and mildly interesting glimpse into the Karak Eight Peaks conflict from the dwarves' perspective, but nowhere on par with the other stories like Skarsnik or Headtaker about this part of the lore
The book is centered around, not Thorgrim Grudgebearer, but the as-yet-unborn son of Belegar Ironhammer, Thorgrim Ironhammer, soon to be future king of Karak Eight Peaks. As Thorgrim is yet to be born, most of the focus is on his pregnant mother, Kemma, who is under constant attack by grobbi, skaven, and urk alike,as well as and Belegar, who struggles to maintain his rightful claim to kingship. Grudgebearer is there, but he is merely a side-character, providing a bit of commentary at the start of each chapter and a bit of fighting at the end. The book doesn't go into much detail about his character's history, motivations, or anything like that though. What a bummer.
Honestly, the book gives Gorfang Rotgut a lot more spotlight than him in my opinion. Being the third part of the Karak Eight Peaks omnibus, and having major characters like Skarsnik and Headtaker at his disposal, I found it rather odd that the author would choose Gorfang to be the main villain of the story instead of one of them, but it really doesn't matter because none of the characters get very much development since the book is so short.
That's the main issue I have with this book and why I'm giving it only 3 stars. It's well written and interesting to read (even though it's not actually about Thorgrim Grudgebearer and Skarsnik and Queek are nowhere to be seen), but it's way too damn short. It ended so suddenly I literally said to myself "Wait, that's it? Seriously?" As it stands, it's too short to call a novel, and doesn't feel complete enough to call a novella or short story. With those, usually, you get a short, but complete narrative with some sense of achievement and finality at the end. Here, you don't get that. Gorfang is beaten but Queek and Skarsnik (arguably more important villains) are still around, the kingdom is not reclaimed, many grudges remain unsettled, evil still lurks in every corner. By the end of the story not much as changed. Gorfang is gone, but he's not even one of the people fighting over Karak Eight Peaks, so Karak Eight Peaks still remains roughly the same way it was before.
All in all, a short and mildly interesting glimpse into the Karak Eight Peaks conflict from the dwarves' perspective, but nowhere on par with the other stories like Skarsnik or Headtaker about this part of the lore
October 31, 2019
It is a very good insight into the World of the Dwarves, or Dawi, in the Warhammer world and how they have to survive their harsh existence in the crumbling remnants of their mighty empire. The Dawi are stubborn creatures who value grudges, honor, and the value of one's oath, they are a grim race who hope to reclaim their mighty empire from the horrors resting in the World's Edge Mountains. This Book shows this side of the Dwarves and the value they place on what they believe in.
February 12, 2023
Gorfang is a legend
October 13, 2014
As the name suggests this is not the tale of Thorgrim Grudgebearer, but the tale of King Beleger and his queen Emma and their struggles to defend their homeland from the various forces threatening it. This may be the first time when a female dwarf takes the place of one of the main characters and despite the lack of action compared to other black library titles these unique characters are what makes this book interesting.
This short novel tells the story of the side of the dwarf's in the battle for the Karak Eight Peaks, the land which is contested by four different races/species. In between this fierce struggle this is but a small piece of tale conveying the story of the dwarf's side. Although at times the tale is a bit boring due to the excerpts from the book of grudges and some dialogue play of internal disputes among different dwarf clan leaders the tale is quite interesting due to overall unpredictable plot and the writers method of story telling through various viewpoints.
But at the end of the day, the interesting characters are what makes this book enjoyable. Kemma steals the show with her smartness and bravery despite her advanced pregnancy; Beleger is a cocky sort of fellow with witty dialogues; and who wont love Gorfang Rotgut with his sheer strength and evil ways.
I would have loved if this tale was larger in size and would love to read more about these characters. I recommend other readers to go read 'Headtaker' and 'Skarsnik' to enjoy other sides of the storyline.
This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/
This short novel tells the story of the side of the dwarf's in the battle for the Karak Eight Peaks, the land which is contested by four different races/species. In between this fierce struggle this is but a small piece of tale conveying the story of the dwarf's side. Although at times the tale is a bit boring due to the excerpts from the book of grudges and some dialogue play of internal disputes among different dwarf clan leaders the tale is quite interesting due to overall unpredictable plot and the writers method of story telling through various viewpoints.
But at the end of the day, the interesting characters are what makes this book enjoyable. Kemma steals the show with her smartness and bravery despite her advanced pregnancy; Beleger is a cocky sort of fellow with witty dialogues; and who wont love Gorfang Rotgut with his sheer strength and evil ways.
I would have loved if this tale was larger in size and would love to read more about these characters. I recommend other readers to go read 'Headtaker' and 'Skarsnik' to enjoy other sides of the storyline.
This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.
For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/
September 16, 2014
The history of the grudges of the Dwarves is a long long tale. This covers a couple of the grudges between Thorgrim Grudgebearer and Belegar Ironfist, and the various kings competing for the crowns of the Eight Peaks. Very well written, with great fight scenes between the orcs and the dwarfs. Gorfang Rotgut is superbly written, as are all the orc sections, worthy of Guy Haley himself, high praise for Guymer.
December 25, 2025
I liked the way he described the Dwarfs, their society, grudges, the way they move, live, fight, argue. While reading the book I've had the feeling of that dwarf atmosphere. I gave it only 3 stars because I think it's too short. Yeah, I understand that's the format he decided to write in, but it could've been a little bit longer.
August 14, 2014
Great Orc vs Dwarf battle at the end. Minus one star for having to endure a lot of info on dwarves trade disputes.
July 24, 2014
It is at average book with Dwarf vs. Orc/Goblin battles.
It gets a bonus star for the first birth scene in a Black Library book.
It gets a bonus star for the first birth scene in a Black Library book.
November 13, 2015
Albeit considered rather short in volume, Thorgrim regains its composure with great substance. Name sake of the book itself Thorgrim shows why he is High King of Karaz-a-Karak.
November 16, 2015
an enjoyable quick read
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews